Chelsea outcast Diego Costa trains on his own in Brazil

Chelsea outcast Diego Costa has been training on his own in Brazil

Of course you like to sign players for the future, but if you can get the best one that way, then why not?

Everton boss Ronald Koeman on Diego Costa deal

Koeman said ahead of Thursday’s Europa League first-leg playoff against Hajduk Split that will decide who reaches the group phase: “Of course you like to sign players for the future, but if you can get the best one that way, then why not?”

The Everton boss, who completed the club-record £45m signing of Gylfi Sigurdsson from Swansea yesterday, wants to sign another striker.

Koeman has given up hope of signing Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud and admitted finding a suitable No.9 to fill the void left by Romelu Lukaku is a struggle.

“It’s difficult ­because it needs to be a quality player, or a young player who can develop or improve.

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Everton boss Ronald Koeman has refused to rule out a move for Chelsea striker Diego Costa

“We have the possibility maybe to sign good players, but we don’t play in the Champions League – and that sometimes makes things very difficult.

“Still, we need a striker. We signed Sandro, we know about the development of Dominic Calvert-Lewin, but we need ­another one who can play the No.9 role.

“When you play in Europe – and let’s hope we reach the ­Europa League – and in the ­Premier League you can’t do it with one or two strikers.